Publication Date: April 15, 2025
For historical fiction fans of women’s untold true stories, an early twentieth century novel about Jo van Gogh who battled the male-dominated art elite in her fifteen-year crusade to save her genius brother-in-law Vincent from obscurity.
In the tradition of The Paris Bookseller and Her Hidden Genius, the story of a real woman overshadowed in history by the giant talent she saved, Vincent van Gogh.
How did a failed belligerent Dutch painter become one of the greatest artists of our time?
In 1891, timid Jo van Gogh Bonger lives safely in the background of her art dealer husband Theo’s passionate work to sell unknown artists, especially his ill-fated dead brother Vincent. When Theo dies unexpectedly, Jo’s brief happiness is shattered. Her inheritance—hundreds of unsold paintings by Vincent—is worthless. Pressured to move to her parents’ home, Jo defies tradition, opening a boarding house to raise her infant son alone, and choosing to promote Vincent’s art herself. But her ingenuity and persistence draw the powerful opposition of a Parisian art dealer who vows to stop her once and for all, and so sink Vincent into obscurity.
Saving Vincent reveals there was more than one genius in the Van Gogh family.
One of the most famous painters in the world can attribute success to a sister-in-law who dedicated her life to raising awareness of his work.
Author Joan Fernandez delivers an insightful historical novel centering around Jo van Gogh in Saving Vincent.
On the surface, the main character seems unlikely as a catalyst for international acclaim. Left alone with a baby after the sudden death of her husband, Jo is a timid woman stuck with her late brother-in-law’s seemingly worthless paintings.
The turn of the century didn’t offer many respectable options for women, which makes Jo’s determination to promote Vincent’s art quite unusual. The author builds a solid framework for the story to unfold, especially the opposition from the art world and its elitist attitudes.
While there is some fictional material woven in, the essence of Jo’s efforts to bring Vincent’s work to the people is well presented.
Saving Vincent sheds light on a brave woman who overcame obstacles in order to ensure the legacy of her brother-in-law’s artwork and make him a household name.
Joan Fernandez is a novelist who brings to light brilliant women’s courageous deeds in history. In 2018, she retired from a 30+ year career as a senior marketing executive to be a full-time writer. In April 2020, she founded a historical fiction affinity group within WFWA that grew from a handful of people to nearly two hundred authors. Her short story, “A Parisian Daughter,” is published in the anthology, Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women. Joan is a sought-after public speaker, most recently presenting “Top 10 Secrets for Forming a Vibrant, Lasting Author Community” at the Historical Novel Society UK (digital) Conference in May 2024. She also presented “How to Portray the Past Truthfully without Harm” at the Tenth Anniversary Conference for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association in September 2023.
